Three teenage friends who died after their car plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland have been named.
Jackson Duke, 17, and Luke Etheridge and Zara Shaw, both aged 16, were all in the car at that time.
One 17-year-old managed to swim to safety but the other Sunderland College friends were trapped inside at 1.30pm.
Members of the public reported the car swerving off the road at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge before crashing into the murky and fast-moving water.
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The driver of the black Audi A3 is currently in hospital with non-serious injuries.
One friend of Zara’s posted a mirror selfie of the pair at their recent prom.
She said: ‘RIP my girl Zara I couldn’t believe it when I found out, thank you for always being there for me and you were such a kind, lovely girl. I’m gonna miss you so much.’
Jackson and Luke were from the Sunderland area, while Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring.
A Sunderland College spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear three students from our Bede Campus tragically lost their lives yesterday afternoon. This is a heartbreaking loss for our college community, and the wider city of Sunderland.
‘Everyone at Sunderland College extends our heartfelt thoughts and deepest condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. We also pay tribute to the emergency services and all those who responded at the scene.’
(Picture: NCJ MEDIA)
Divers from the RNLI were seen on speedboats trying to locate the victims, hampered by a layer of fog that had descended on the river.
Rebecca Trott, who lives next to the river, watched one of the teenagers being pulled out of the fast-moving water.
She told Metro that she heard a loud splash and then an air ambulance arrive shortly after.
‘He managed to jump out before the car hit the water. A few people tried to help. I saw the driver being pulled out.’
‘It was very lucky for him but his friends are dead now. He will have to live with that.’
She claimed rescue divers took two hours to locate the car which had been swept away in the tides.
Calling the river dangerous, she said: ‘There have been a few people who jumped from the bridge and never came back to tell the tale, so it’s rough that river.
‘These teenagers need to be more mindful behind the wheel of a car. Three lives have been taken and another one destroyed just for a moment of madness.’
The boy who reached safety was initially taken to hospital but has since been released and is currently in police custody.
He has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. But police say they are still working to establish who was the driver of the car at the time it entered the water.
Chief Supt Scott Cowie, Area Commander for Sunderland, said: ‘Our thoughts very much continue to be with the loved ones of those who have tragically lost their lives.
‘We will support them in any way that we can at this devastating time and ask that their privacy is respected.
‘We also recognise the impact this tragedy will have on the wider community, and know that everyone will come together to support one another.’
He added: ‘The investigation into the circumstances leading to the car entering the water remains ongoing.
‘We would continue to ask members of the public not to speculate about the incident both on social media and in the community. In doing so, please be mindful of the potential impact such commentary could have on the families of those involved in this incident.’
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